Lighting the shoreline with sensitivity to nature

• Completed2025
• ClientNational Parks & Wildlife
• Sales PartnerBuckford Illumination Group (NSW)
• Lighting DesignerArup
• PhotographyJackie Chan for WE-EF

At Kamay Botany Bay National Park in Kurnell, the Monument Walk project delivers a renewed connection between people and place, inviting visitors to experience the coastal landscape in a way that respects its deep cultural heritage and natural environment.

As the site where the Gweagal people of the Dharawal Nation first encountered the HMB Endeavour in 1770, the park holds immense Indigenous and European historical significance. Today, it remains a place of reflection and learning – a setting where cultural heritage, landscape and community intersect.

The lighting design, led by Arup in collaboration with Buckford Illumination Group NSW and National Parks & Wildlife, sought to enhance safety and amenity along the foreshore path while preserving the park’s heritage values and protecting its sensitive ecosystems.

Subtle illumination, strong purpose

Positioned along the foreshore leading to the newly built wharf, the lighting supports community access after dark, allowing visitors to safely explore the waterfront. The solution needed to balance functionality with respect for the environment, employing Dark Sky-compliant lighting that safeguards local wildlife and preserves the natural nightscape.

To maintain the area’s serene character, National Parks & Wildlife requested that no poles interrupt the horizon line when viewed from the water. This design intent was realised through the careful placement of WE-EF KTY234 WILD-LIGHT bollards, providing discreet, low-level illumination that blends naturally with the coastal landscape and the surrounding remnant vegetation communities.

Innovation and environmental care

The installation marks the first Australian application of WE-EF’s WILD-LIGHT technology in a bollard format, designed to deliver precise light control and minimal spill. The “Wild-Light Motion” concept combines two colour temperatures in one luminaire: the night-sensitive PC Amber channel, with its blue-depleted spectrum, remains on throughout the night to provide gentle base illumination, while the 3000 K channel is activated via motion detection from walkers or cyclists. This approach ensures safety and visibility when required while maintaining an environment that is considerate of local wildlife.

The choice of WE-EF was driven by the company’s reputation for durability, optical control and long-term performance in demanding coastal environments. Manufactured from marine-grade aluminium and treated with the 5CE + Primer corrosion protection system, the luminaires ensure resilience against salt and weather, while the brand’s 10-year warranty provides further assurance for the design team.